KALYANI, Dec 30, 2012 : East Bengal quelled the spirited resistance of the youthful Pailan Arrows with a 3-0 win that provided relief to the Kolkata giant while giving their energetic opponent valuable experience.
The 13th round I-League match at the Municipal Stadium in Kalyani was fought mostly on equal terms where the big-budget East Bengal showed better ability to convert chances against an inexperienced youth team set to mature among seniors by the All India Football Federation.
Captain Sanju Pradhan, who made a return the regular squad after a brief injury break, accomplished a perfect comeback with a brace of goals. Robin Singh, another name which has become irregular in East Bengal’s starting line-up, scored the remaining one to complete winner’s tally.
Their journey derailed by losses in the earlier two rounds, East Bengal desperately searched the elusive win. The team had to wait till the last minute of the first half to see their hopes materialising.
East Bengal’s dominance was indicated by an attempt each from striker Edeh Chidi and attacking-midfielder Lalrindika Ralte, who found their efforts denied by the upright in the fifth and 34th minutes.
Robin Singh, who had not been in his prolific best recently, showed great sense of opportunism as he reached a free ball inside the Arrows box and sent a rasping left-footer into the net.
The first-half lead inspired East Bengal to look for more after the interval. Sanju Pradhan realised East Bengal’s hopes with a brilliant right-footer that way its way home through the top angle, in the 55th minute.
Alwyn George, who impressed with his sense of position in the Arrows attack, missed the easiest of chances in the 70th minute when he was invited to place the ball into an unprotected goal by a mistimed clearance from the East Bengal custodian Abhijit Mondal. The Arrows striker jumbled up in haste and saw his volley sailing wide off an open goal.
Pradhan moved up once again to fire home another long-ranger in the 86th minute that ended Arrows hopes. East Bengal now have 24 points from 12 matches while Arrows remained on 14 points from its 12 matches.
The 13th round I-League match at the Municipal Stadium in Kalyani was fought mostly on equal terms where the big-budget East Bengal showed better ability to convert chances against an inexperienced youth team set to mature among seniors by the All India Football Federation.
Captain Sanju Pradhan, who made a return the regular squad after a brief injury break, accomplished a perfect comeback with a brace of goals. Robin Singh, another name which has become irregular in East Bengal’s starting line-up, scored the remaining one to complete winner’s tally.
Their journey derailed by losses in the earlier two rounds, East Bengal desperately searched the elusive win. The team had to wait till the last minute of the first half to see their hopes materialising.
East Bengal’s dominance was indicated by an attempt each from striker Edeh Chidi and attacking-midfielder Lalrindika Ralte, who found their efforts denied by the upright in the fifth and 34th minutes.
Robin Singh, who had not been in his prolific best recently, showed great sense of opportunism as he reached a free ball inside the Arrows box and sent a rasping left-footer into the net.
The first-half lead inspired East Bengal to look for more after the interval. Sanju Pradhan realised East Bengal’s hopes with a brilliant right-footer that way its way home through the top angle, in the 55th minute.
Alwyn George, who impressed with his sense of position in the Arrows attack, missed the easiest of chances in the 70th minute when he was invited to place the ball into an unprotected goal by a mistimed clearance from the East Bengal custodian Abhijit Mondal. The Arrows striker jumbled up in haste and saw his volley sailing wide off an open goal.
Pradhan moved up once again to fire home another long-ranger in the 86th minute that ended Arrows hopes. East Bengal now have 24 points from 12 matches while Arrows remained on 14 points from its 12 matches.
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